| Indian-Based NGOs Want PM To Set Up Non-muslim Affairs Dept |
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The leaders of some 40 Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Sunday called on the Prime Minister's Department to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to solve issues confronting the non-Muslims, not only Hindus but people of other religions as well.
Malaysian Indian Youth Council President A. Rajaratnam said the decision was arrived at unanimously at a closed-door meeting of the coalition of the Indian-based organisations, here Sunday.
"Since we have achieved 50 years of nation-building, it's now an ideal time for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department."
"There is already a Muslim Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Department and we would like to have a Non-Muslim Affairs Department," he told reporters after having chaired the one-hour meeting.
Among the NGOs which attended the meeting were the Malaysian Hindu Council, the Malaysian Indian Youth Council, the Malaysian Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM), the Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations, the Malaysian Silambam Association, the Malaysian Indian Civic Association, the Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association and the Malaysian Tamil School Headmasters Association.
Rajaratnam, who is also the acting secretary of the coalition, said the coalition will set up a committee to prepare a memorandum on issues confronting the Indians for the prime minister, which is expected to be completed in a month's time.
"Upon its completion, we will approach MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to hand over the memorandum for us to the prime minister," he said.
Rajaratnam also said the coalition appealed to the prime minister to charge the Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees involved in organising the illegal rally on Nov 25, in court.
The NGOs expressed the hope that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail would consider the appeals to drop the attempted murder charge against the 31 people held for participating in an illegal demonstration in Batu Caves last month.
-- BERNAMA
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